Ivan Kostov was born in Sofia on 23 December
1949.1974 - completed his university studies
at the Karl Marx Higher Institute of Economics, Sofia.Later, in 1974, he joined the lecturing
staff of the same academic institution as Assistant Professor.1979 - Senior Assistant Professor at the
Scientific Communism Department of the "V. I lyich Lenin" Higher Institute
of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Sofia (now Technical University).1982 - received a second university degree
in Mathematical Modelling of Economic Processes from the Kliment Ohridski
University in Sofia.1990 - elected deputy from the UDF
to the 7th Grand National Assembly and Chairman of the Economic Affairs
Committee. Finance Minister in the UDF-BSP
coalition government headed by Dimitar Popov.1991 - UDF deputy to the 36th National
Assembly. Associate Professor at the Technical University in Sofia.Minister of Finance in the UDF cabinet headed
by Philip Dimitrov until the end of 1992.1993 - Deputy Floor Leader of UDF's parliamentary
group.Leader of the UDF; deputy to the 37th National
Assembly.Following the April 1997 elections, as
deputy to the 38th National Assembly, he was appointed Prime Minister.

Working knowledge of English and Russian. Married,
with two daughters. Eastern Orthodox Christian.

* * *

In December 1999, under increasing pressure
on the part of the public and the parties represented in parliament,
demanding the resignations of corrupt functionaries or such with a low
approval rating, he made some replacements and restructuring in the UdDF
cabinet, forming practically a new one, a second UDF cabinet, for only
Finance Minister Radev, Ecology Minister Maneva,
Minister of Culture Moskova and Labour Minister
Neikov
of the old cabinet kept their posts. The structural changes were made with
a view to the EU membership invitation and the cabinet was joined by some
figures that were entirely unknown to the public.In the formation of the new government, Kostov
removed without any explanations Minister of the Interior Bogomil
Bonev, although Bonev's rating of approval was very high. Now Kostov
cannot but follow the course of the scandalous disclosures made by Bonev.
Bonev told about the unlawful privatization of the water power stations
and Kostov stopped the procedure. Bonev revealed the compensatory bonds
fraud, and on 9 June 2000 Kostov dismissed Bozhkov as Bulgaria's
chief negotiator with the EU.On 12 June 2000 Bonev publicized new scandalous
information in connection with the privatization of Bulbank and if
it is proved, Kostov will have to hand in his resignation, demanded already
by Bonev. The reaction of the opposition was not late too. Dogan
commented that Kostov was "scared and inadequate", and also that "for the
past three years Bulgaria has been plundered like no one else before did".
He demanded the resignation of Foreign Minister Mikhailova and Finance
Minister Radev.In fact Kostov's field for manoeuvring
is quite narrow. It is least likely for him to resort to a large-scale
purging of the corrupt in the UDF and the government, because this will
only lead to the break-up of the UDF, but also because he himself is the
originator of the now functioning system and is directly responsible for
it. If Bozhkov follows in the steps of Bonev with scandalous disclosures,
then Kostov will surely have to resign. It is more likely for Kostov to
begin purging the lower tiers of second-echelon functionaries of the UDF
and the public administration. The resignation of Mrs. Zhanina Kalinkova,
deputy regional governor of Dobrich and the started removal of customs
officers, are signs along this line of development. Inside the UDF, the
pressure on Kostov will inevitably grow from two sides - by corrupt functionaries
and by decent party members alike. The result may be a chain reaction of
resignations within the UDF and the government.A favourable circumstance for Kostov is that
so far none of the opposition political forces has demanded early elections
and has offered a serious governing alternative. Nevertheless, it is quite
likely for Kostov to form i n the autumn a new cabinet to face the 2000
parliamentary elections. It is important for him to keep the UDF intact
until these elections. Kostov's position will depend largely on the future
disclosures of corruption made not only by Bonev, but also by other removed
functionaries. At present, Kostov has no winning move. The ideas of a new
cabinet, to be headed by Zhotev or Mikhailova,
recently launched in the media are not serious. It seems a more realistic
development for Kostov to try to form a coalition government with
the MRF
or the EuroLeft in the autumn.
In any case, both the UDF and Kostov himself have lost much of their glory
and that is why their ratings after the local elections have preserved
a downward trend.

After UDF's failure in the June 2001 election, Kostov
retired from the leading positions, but his influence on
Ekaterina Mikhailova, who then became the
party's leader, and on the other leading figures too, persisted.

2001 - Deputy to the 39th National Assembly.

2004 - Some time after
Nadezhda Mikhailova is elected leader of
the UDF, Kostov heads a groups of MPs who split from the UDF (Union of
Democratic Forces) to form a new parliamentary group of the United
Democratic Forces and, later, found a new political party - Democrats
for a Strong Bulgaria which is due to take part in the 2005 parliamentary
election.

2005 - in the June 25 parliamentary elections wins a seat in the 40th National Assembly from one of Sofia's three constituencies.